# Tenant registration in Punjab: deadline, documents and how to register

URL: https://which.pk/property/guides/tenant-registration-punjab/
Author: Hassam Imtiaz
Updated: 13 Oct 2026

## Summary

Punjab law makes tenant registration compulsory: the landlord, tenant or property dealer must give the tenant's details to the police within 15 days of handing over the home. Registration at a Police Khidmat Markaz or police station is free and takes 15 to 20 minutes, according to Lahore Police. The Punjab Police Pakistan app and Dastak also list it. Not registering can mean up to six months in prison and a fine of Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 lakh.

## Key facts

- Deadline: 15 days from possession
- Fee at the counter: Free
- Maximum fine: Rs 1 lakh
- Time at the counter: 15 to 20 minutes

Tenant registration is compulsory in Punjab: the landlord, the tenant or the property dealer must give the tenant's details to the police **within 15 days** of handing over the home. It is **free** at a Police Khidmat Markaz or police station and takes 15 to 20 minutes, according to Lahore Police, and the Punjab Police Pakistan app and Dastak also list it. Skipping it can cost **up to six months in prison and a Rs 1 lakh fine**.

The rule comes from the **Punjab Information of Temporary Residents Act 2015**. Police and news reports often call it the "Tenancy Act".

## Who has to register a tenant?

Section 3 of the Act names three people: the **property dealer, the landlord and the tenant**. Any one of them can do it. Once one of them gives the information, the other two are no longer liable.

The Act counts as a landlord anyone who owns the place or is entitled to collect the rent. A tenant includes a sub-tenant. It covers any building, or part of one, let out to live in. Hotels and hostels have their own rule: they must report a guest within 24 hours of check-in.

Landlords have one extra duty either way. Section 5 says you must not let a tenant stay until you have checked their identity from their **CNIC or passport** and given a copy to the police at the earliest.

**15 days, not 48 hours:** Many websites still say 48 hours. That was the Ordinance of January 2015. The Act passed on 4 March 2015 replaced it and set **fifteen days from the tenant getting possession**. We follow the Act.

## What documents do I need for tenant registration?

The two police pages give slightly different lists. Carry everything on both:

| Document | Punjab Police (TRS page) | Lahore Police |
|---|---|---|
| Owner's CNIC | Copy | Original and copy |
| Tenant's CNIC | Copy | Original and copy |
| Rent agreement | Yes | Original and copy |
| Photographs | Recent photo of owner and tenant | Photo of the tenant |
| Affidavit | Not listed | Yes |

If you don't have a written agreement yet, see our guide to [writing a rent agreement in Pakistan](/property/guides/rent-agreement-pakistan/). Neither page says whether the affidavit must be on stamp paper, so ask the counter staff before you go.

## How do I register a tenant at a Khidmat Markaz or police station?

This is the route both police pages describe, and the one we can set out step by step.

1. Collect the documents in the table above, including originals of both CNICs and the rent agreement.
2. Go to the **nearest Police Khidmat Markaz** or the police station for the area where the property is.
3. Hand the documents to the front desk. An official enters the owner, property and tenant details into the Tenant Registration System.
4. Collect the **tenant registration certificate**, which Lahore Police says is issued on the spot.
5. Keep the certificate with the rent agreement. Lahore Police says it helps you avoid hassle during search operations.

Lahore Police lists the processing fee as **free** and the time as **about 15 to 20 minutes**. In April 2026 the IG Punjab described Khidmat Markaz as open round the clock (24/7). The same release said over 310,000 people had registered tenants at Khidmat Markaz by 16 April 2026.

## Can I do tenant registration online in Punjab?

Partly. There are three channels besides the counter:

- **Punjab Police Pakistan app.** This Google Play app lists **Tenant Registration** among its services, next to character certificates and police verification. On 13 October 2026 the listing showed more than 1 million downloads and a last update on 23 June 2026. PITB, the Punjab Information Technology Board, says a mobile app supports initial tenant registration.
- **Dastak.** The Punjab government's Dastak service lists **Tenant Registration** under Punjab Police. You book a visit through the Dastak app or website (helpline 1202), and a representative comes to your door. Dastak's fee page doesn't list a fee for this service.
- **trs.punjabpolice.gov.pk.** The Punjab Police page names this as the online portal. It didn't load when we tried it on 13 October 2026, and the only archived copy (2022) shows a staff login page.

**What we couldn't check:** The app's tenant form sits behind a login, so we couldn't see its screens or fields. We left out step-by-step app instructions found only on blogs and videos. If you use the app, keep a screenshot of the confirmation. If no certificate comes, register at a Khidmat Markaz.

## What is the penalty for not registering a tenant?

**Section 11, Punjab Information of Temporary Residents Act 2015:** Up to 6 months in prison and a Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 lakh fine (Applies to knowingly breaking the registration, ID-check or firearms rules, or refusing police access or information.)

The offence is **cognizable and non-bailable**. A first-class magistrate tries it summarily.

The government can settle (compound) the case instead, for an administrative penalty of at least Rs 10,000. That option isn't open to repeat offenders.

Police do enforce it, especially in Lahore:

| Period (Lahore) | Arrests | Cases | Reported by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026, to early April | 700 | 360 | APP, 5 Apr 2026 |
| 2026, to 21 June | 1,468 | 739 | The News, 21 Jun 2026 |

The June crackdown was tied to Muharram security. Lahore's police chief called tenant registration a key part of the city's security. These are police figures; neither report said how many cases ended in convictions.

## What else does the law require from landlords?

Three duties go beyond the registration form:

- **Identity check.** Don't hand over the keys before you have checked the tenant's CNIC or passport and given the police a copy (section 5).
- **No weapons.** The landlord and the dealer must make sure the tenant has no firearm or explosives, other than a licensed weapon (section 8).
- **Inspections.** A police officer of Sub-Inspector rank or above can inspect a rented home with reasonable notice and question the landlord, tenant or dealer (section 7).

The Act limits how police use the data: only to prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute terrorism and other crimes under the Pakistan Penal Code (section 6). PITB says the system checks tenants against the Criminal Record Office and alerts police if a tenant has a record.

## How many people register each year?

Registrations at Police Khidmat Markaz have grown, according to Punjab Police figures reported by APP:

| Period | Tenant registrations at Khidmat Markaz |
|---|---|
| All of 2025 | Over 472,000 |
| 1 Jan to 16 Apr 2026 | Over 310,000 |
| 1 Jan to 19 Aug 2026 | Over 811,000 |

The 2026 total by August was already well above the whole of 2025. The releases don't break the figures down by district.

## Before you rent out a property

Registration with the police is separate from your title and tax duties. Check the owner's record on [fard online in Punjab](/property/guides/fard-online-punjab/) and keep up with [property tax in Punjab](/property/guides/property-tax-punjab/).

If you live abroad and let your house through a dealer or a relative, the duty still applies. Any one of the three can register. See our guide for [overseas Pakistanis buying property](/property/guides/overseas-pakistani-property/).

More guides: [rent agreement in Pakistan](/property/guides/rent-agreement-pakistan/), [property transfer in Punjab](/property/guides/property-transfer-punjab/), [succession certificate](/property/guides/succession-certificate-pakistan/), [Property](/property/).

## Questions people ask

### Is tenant registration compulsory in Punjab?

Yes. The Punjab Information of Temporary Residents Act 2015 requires the landlord, the tenant or the property dealer to give the tenant's details to the police within 15 days of possession. If one of them does it, the others are covered.

### What is the fine for not registering a tenant in Punjab?

Up to six months in prison and a fine of Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 lakh under section 11 of the Act. The offence is cognizable and non-bailable.

### Can I do tenant registration online in Punjab?

The Punjab Police Pakistan app lists Tenant Registration as a service, and Dastak can send a representative to your door. We couldn't test the app's form, so the counter at a Khidmat Markaz or police station is the route we can describe step by step.

### What documents are needed for tenant registration?

Lahore Police asks for the owner's and tenant's CNICs (originals and copies), the rent agreement (original and copy), an affidavit and a photo of the tenant. Punjab Police also lists a recent photo of the owner.

### Is the deadline 48 hours or 15 days?

15 days. The January 2015 ordinance said 48 hours, but the Act passed in March 2015 replaced it and set fifteen days from the tenant getting possession.

## Sources

- [The Punjab Information of Temporary Residents Act 2015 (Internet Archive copy, 15 Oct 2024)](https://web.archive.org/web/20241015005825/http://punjablaws.gov.pk/laws/2591.html), Government of the Punjab (Punjab Laws) (accessed 13 Oct 2026)
- [The Punjab Information of Temporary Residents Bill 2015 (Internet Archive copy)](http://web.archive.org/web/20180823005231/http://www.pap.gov.pk:80/bills/details/en/20/127), Provincial Assembly of the Punjab (accessed 13 Oct 2026)
- [Tenant Registration System](https://punjabpolice.gov.pk/trs), Punjab Police (accessed 13 Oct 2026)
- [Tenants Registration](https://lahorepolice.punjab.gov.pk/node/44), Lahore Police (accessed 13 Oct 2026)
- [Tenant Registration System](https://pitb.gov.pk/trs), Punjab Information Technology Board (accessed 13 Oct 2026)
- [Punjab Police Khidmat Marakaz Actively Providing Digital Services to Citizens](https://punjabpolice.gov.pk/node/27333), Punjab Police (accessed 13 Oct 2026)
- [Punjab Police Pakistan (Google Play listing)](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pk.pitb.gov.ppcma&hl=en&gl=PK), Google Play (accessed 13 Oct 2026)
- [Dastak: services](https://dastak.punjab.gov.pk/citizen/services), Government of the Punjab (accessed 13 Oct 2026)
- [The Punjab Information of Temporary Residents Ordinance 2015](https://khalidzafar.com/wp-content/files_mf/1527075465PunjabInformationofTemporaryResidentsOrdinance2015.pdf), Khalid Zafar & Associates (accessed 13 Oct 2026)
- [Over 3.038m citizens avail Police Khidmat Markaz services this year](https://www.app.com.pk/?p=1265472), APP (accessed 13 Oct 2026)
- [Punjab Police Khidmat Marakaz served over 3.8m citizens in 2025](https://www.app.com.pk/?p=1137388), APP (accessed 13 Oct 2026)
- [1,468 arrested for violation of Tenancy Act this year](https://www.thenews.pk/print/1421745-1-468-arrested-for-violation-of-tenancy-act-this-year), The News (accessed 13 Oct 2026)
- [Police arrests 700 people for violating Tenancy Act](https://www.app.com.pk/?p=1188867), APP (accessed 13 Oct 2026)